All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi got emotional while talking about Bilkisi Bano during the poll campaign in Gujarat. Bilkis Bano recently petitioned the Supreme Court against the early release of 11 men who were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2008 for the gang rape and murder of seven family members.
“We are human after all and we are prone to emotions. While I was talking about Bilkis Bano, thoughts of my own sister and daughter crossed my mind,” Owaisi told a news agency. “She was pregnant when she was raped and her mother and daughter were also killed. However, even after 20 years, she is still fighting for justice. If someone does not feel pain, they are not worthy to be called human.”
When asked about the reason for the renewed traction around the 2002 Gujarat riots and the Bilkis Bano case during the assembly election campaign, Owaisi said, “BJP will never forget 2002. Prime Minister Modi was the Chief Minister at that time.” He failed to save Bilkis Bano, Ehsaan Jafri and those who were killed in the bakery. About 50,000 people in the state were forced to become refugees. I also went there with the medical team. So if PM Modi is invoking all that happened then, I congratulate him.” AIMIM fielded candidates in 14 assembly seats, but its candidates withdrew from Bapunagar seat.
Talking about his party’s poll prospects, the AIMIM chief said, “We are fighting for 13 seats in the Vidhan Sabha and our focus is on winning them. We have worked very hard, visited every locality and have a great response from the public.” I hope this support will turn into votes and our candidates will become MLAs.” The second and final phase of Gujarat elections 2022 will be held on Monday and the results will be declared on December 8.
